FLHSA plans national search for new director

Weisberg, who has led the health planning agency since 2006, announced her plans to leave FLHSA by the end of this year at the agency’s board of directors meeting Monday.

The board expects Associate Director Thomas Mahoney M.D. to stay on indefinitely in his present role and plans a national search to replace Weisberg, said Leonard Redon, FLHSA board member.

“I have enjoyed every one of my eight years at FLHSA,” Weisberg stated in a handout announcing her resignation to the board. “I want to thank you for working with me to improve health care in Rochester and across the Finger Lakes region. We have accomplished much together.”

The decision to leave was Weisberg’s alone and deeply regretted by the agency’s board, FLHSA chairman Michael Nazar M.D. said.

“Fran helped to grow the agency into a larger, more robust organization that has real presence in the community,” he said.

Under Weisberg, FLHSA convened the 2020 Commission, a committee made up of area community, business and health care organization representatives that weighed extensive expansions--ultimately reined in—planned by several area hospitals.

A successor group, the 2020 Performance Commission continues to examine area health care issues. The agency also has helped further community health initiatives, including lead paint, nutrition, diabetes and hypertension programs.

Proof of the effectiveness of Weisberg’s leadership came in the form of a $25 million Centers for Medicaid and Medicaid Innovation grant, the largest CMMI grant awarded to any U.S. health care organization, said Nazar, a Unity Health System vice president who leads Unity’s 19 owned medical practices.

Having recently helped guide the health planning agency through a strategic plan and a succession plan, she felt like now would be a good time to leave, Weisberg said in an interview Tuesday.

“I felt like I had another eight months work in front of me,” she said.

In her remaining time at FLHSA, she will continue to work with state Health Commissioner Nariv Shah M.D. to promote regional health planning, Weisberg said. She does not have a definite idea of what her next step might be but hopes to find a slot to continue working to connect the community to medical resources.

Before joining FLHSA, Weisberg led Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc. for a decade. After leaving Lifespan she did stints as an official of the University of Rochester Medical Center and the Rochester Diocese’s Catholic Charities Community Services.

“We are grateful to Fran for giving us eight months lead time to find a replacement,” said Redon, who serves as deputy mayor of Rochester.